Duncan Micallef, Sandro Bellio, David Vegter and Jimmy Ålund number one qualifiers at Tierp Arena
At the first day of qualifying for the SpeedEvents Internationals four drivers from Sweden took the lead in the four categories of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. As expected there were numerous improvements on day two with dramatic changes in the qualifying order as a result. In Top Fuel Duncan Micallef, from Malta, stormed into the number one qualifying position, Sandro Bellio, from Belgium, took over the lead in Top Methanol and Dutchman David Vegter stormed into the lead in Pro Modified. Jimmy Ålund (Pro Stock) was the only driver who was able to remain in the number one position and the only number one qualifier from Sweden. Thus Micallef, Bellio, Vegter and Ålund will lead their respective categories into Sunday’s eliminations at round two of the 2024 FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Tierp Arena.
The tuners, crew chiefs and drivers had some homework to do after Friday qualifying. And they did a good job while the track temperature and air were also better than on day one of qualifying for the SpeedEvents Internationals, round two of the 2024 FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Tierp Arena. As a result there were numerous improvements and the qualifying order changed after almost every run and definitely after every session. The spectators in the grandstand had plenty to cheer for and enjoyed a great day of racing.
In Top Fuel Duncan Micallef, from Malta, stormed into the number one qualifying position on his second run of the day. The RF Motorsport driver recorded a great 3.94 seconds and will have a bye run in round one of eliminations.
Susanne Callin, from Sweden, improved to 4.17 seconds, but dropped one position.
Antti Horto, from Finland, improved to 4.92 seconds and will have to face Callin in the first round of eliminations.
In Top Methanol Sandro Bellio had a great first run of the day. The driver from Belgium stormed to a great 5.52 seconds to take over the number one qualifying position from Tony Bryntesson.
The Swede recorded a quicker ET as well, but it was not enough to remain in the number one position.
Ari Pietilä, from Finland, had solved his problems from day one and recorded 6.1 seconds to qualify in third position. Jonny Lagg once again had all sorts of traction problems and the Swede will have to face number one qualifier Bellio in the first round of eliminations.
Qualifying in Pro Modified was once again exciting with numerous improvements. David Vegter, the number one qualifier at Santa Pod in May, saved the best for the last. On his final run of the day the Dutchman stormed to a great 5.83 seconds to claim his second number one qualifying position of the year.
At that moment Andres Arnover was the leader as the driver from Estonia recorded a great 5.86 seconds on his first run of the day.
Friday leader Andreas Arthursson improved to 5.92 seconds, but dropped into the number three position. Åke Persson, from Sweden, finished qualifying in fourth position with 5.94 seconds, with Jere Rantaniemi, from Finland, fifth with 5.98 seconds. Michel Tooren surprised with the number six qualifying position in his brand new Camaro. With 6.01 seconds the Dutchman was the first driver in the six seconds. Marcus Perman, Friday’s number four qualifier, finished qualifying in seventh position.
In Pro Stock there were some major changes in the qualifying order as well, although the number one position remained with Jimmy Ålund. The driver from Sweden improved to 6.54 seconds and was once again in a class of his own.
Robin Norén improved to a great 6.632 seconds to claim the number two position. His ET was 0.02 seconds quicker than Michael Malmgren’s 6.634 seconds.
The reigning FIA European champion finished qualifying in third position. Christian Sagelv came very close with 6.635 seconds, but still dropped two positions to finish qualifying in fourth position.
Eliminations for the SpeedEvents Internationals at Tierp Arena will start Sunday morning, June 16.
Text and photos: Remco Scheelings
For all qualifying results: https://www.dragracing.eu/results.asp
For photos of the SpeedEvents Internationals see the gallery on: https://www.dragracingeurope.eu/fiaedc/round-2-tierp-arena-june-13-16/
